On Thursday 21 October 2004 02:19 pm, Brian Mury wrote: > > Be very, very careful. Take a look here: > > http://www.synapse.net/radio/can-pol.htm > > If you measure on a ratio of parties/people, the Canadians are easily the > > world leaders. Note the name "Progressive Conservative". Huh? > > -- cmg (who should know better than to get into this thread) > > I'm not sure why Brian should be careful - he's merely expressed an > interest in learning. > > You are criticising us because we have a democratic system where > everyone has the right to start their own party and run candidates. Then > you go on to criticize political parties that no longer exist. > > Who should be careful? I'm sorry, I assure you that no criticism of the Canadian political system was intended. I was attempting to point out that Canada is a very complex and diverse nation and the OP had better be prepared for it. (But then he's a linuxer, so he knows how to do his research, right?) FWIW, having once lived there, I know full well the dangers of thinking that Canadians are really Americans that talk weird, can't spell, and have really good beer. As for the variety of political parties: Again, no criticism was intended. While I readily admit that I've never looked for a complete list of American political parties, I would be shocked to learn that we have more political parties per person -- if for no other reason than we have a lot more people. (Sorry, but a ratio of parties to land area would _not_ be meaningful.) As for the remark about "Progressive Conservative": Given the bipolar political climate here in the US (oh gracious, now I've PO'd the OP -- a Libertarian), the name "Progressive Conservative" comes across as a non sequitor here given that many old-time (US) liberals now brand themselves as "progressives". - cmg
